Registration adjustment mechanism

ABSTRACT

A printing press roll is driven by a drive shaft by means of a drive mechanism. The latter is adjustable, first, to change the phase relation between the press roll and the drive shaft and, second, to move the roll axially. Both adjustments are used to achieve proper registration between the press roll and a web moving through the press. The adjustable drive mechanism comprises a cylindrical pilot ring rigidly secured to the press roll and a hollow cylindrical register ring slidably mounted on the pilot ring. A first spur gear is attached to the register ring and is in constant mesh (and sliding relationship) with a second spur gear driven by the drive shaft. Inwardly projecting teeth on the register ring engage spiral grooves on the surface of the pilot ring. Means are provided to axially move the register ring and thereby change the phase relation between the press roll and drive shaft. Means are also provided to simultaneously move both the register ring and pilot ring axially and thereby move the press roll axially without causing a phase change.

limited States Patent 91 [11] 3,7423% Sedlalt ,luly 3,1973

1 REGISTRATION ADJUSTMENT 301,493

MECHANISM [75] Inventor: Charles K. Sedlak, Brookfield, Wis.

[73] Assignee: Faustel, Inc., Butler, Wis.

[22] Filed: Apr. 17, 1972 [211 App]. No.2 244,405

[52] US. Cl. 101/248, 74/396 [51] int. Cl..: B411 13/24 [58] Field oi Search 74/395, 401, 396; 101/248 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 531,076 12/1894 Waldron 101/248 X 1,850,802 3/1932 Langston et al. 101/248 2,015,036 9/1935 Kaiser 101/248 2,183,045 12/1939 Presby 101/248 2,260,402 10/1941 Potdevin 101/248 2,425,218 8/1947 Worthington... 101/248 2,425,914 8/1947 Blackley et al.. lOl/248 2,986,997 6/1961 Schmutz 101/248 3,182,590 5/1965 Johnson 101/248 3,329,087 7/1967 Sandor et a1 101/248 X 3,641,933 2/1972 Tafel 101/248 X Germany 101/248 6/1968 Sweden 101/248 Primary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey I Assistant Examiner-Paul T. Sewell Attorney-James E. Nilles 5 7 ABSTRACT A printing press roll is driven by a drive shaft by means of a drive mechanism. The latter is adjustable, first, to change the phase relation between the press roll and the drive shaft and, second, to move the roll axially. Both adjustments are used to achieve proper registration between the press roll and a web moving through the press. The adjustable drive mechanism comprises a cylindrical pilot ring rigidly secured to the press roll and a hollow cylindrical register ring slidably mounted on the pilot ring. A first spur gear is attached to the register ring and is in constant mesh (and sliding relationship) with a second spur gear driven by the drive shaft. lnwardly projecting teeth on the register ring engage spiral grooves on the surface of the pilot ring. Means are provided to axially move the register ring and thereby change the phase relation between the press roll and drive shaft. Means are also provided to simultaneously move both the register ring and pilot ring axially and thereby move the press r011 axially without causing a phase change.

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PMENTEDJUL 3 I973 SHFH 2 BF 2 REGISTRATION ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of Use This invention relates generally to adjustable drive mechanisms for machines such as printing presses which employ a roll and a drive shaft for ultimately driving the roll. More specifically, it relates to drive mechanisms whereby the phase relationship between the roll and drive shaft can be changed and whereby the axial position of the roll in the machine can be changed.

2. Description of the Prior Art Some printing presses employ a plate cylinder press roll to apply printing to a web moving through the printing press. The press roll is ultimately driven by a drive shaft which also drives other press components. It is sometimes necessary to change the phase relationship between rotation of the press roll and the drive shaft or to change the axial position of the press roll or both to achieve proper registration between the plate cylinder press roll and the web being printed. It is desirable to make either or both changes while the press is stationary or in operation and to make these changes without affecting other press components. Heretofore separate mechanisms were used for each change. Also, some prior art adjustable drive mechanisms for achiev' ing a phase change employed helical gears axially movable on a splined shaft which needed to be designed to extremely close tolerances and very accurately machined in order to operate properly. However, helical gears cannot, due to manufacturing problems, be set as accurately as spur gears. Also, due to manufacturing problems, the splined shaft contributed to gear pitch line run-out and backlash. It is desirable, therefore, to provide improved adjustable drive mechanisms which avoid the use of helical gears and use more accurate spur gears instead; which have less pitch line run-out and have reduced backlash. Such helical gears were costly to produce, subject to wear which reduced their useful life and exposed the adjustable drive mechanism to faulty operation.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION In accordance with the invention, there is provided a machine, such as a printing press, having a roll which is supported for rotation on the press frame and is ultimately driven by the press drive shaft through an adjustable drive mechanism. The drive mechanism is adjustable while the printing press is stationary or in operation, first, to effect a phase change between the drive shaft and the press roll and, second, to axially move the press roll to achieve proper registration between the press roll and a web moving through the press. Both adjustments can be carried out independently. The adjustable drive mechanism comprises a bull spur gear driven by the drive shaft; and comprises a spur plate cylinder gear in constant mesh with the bull spur gear and axially movable with respect thereto. The mechanism also comprises a hollow cylindrical circumferential register ring attached to the spur plate cylinder gear and hollow cylindrical pilot ring which is connected to the press roll and on which the register ring is slidably mounted. The pilot ring is provided with helical grooves on its outer surface which are in constant mesh with inwardly projecting gear teeth affixed to the register ring. Means are provided to'effect a phase change between the roll and drive shaft and to change the axial position of the roll. Thus, the register ring is provided with a circumferential groove on its outer surface which engages an axially movable phase adjustment yoke. Movement of the phase adjustment yoke effects axial sliding movement of the register ring and the spur plate cylinder gear and, because of the cooperative action of the gear teeth on the register ring and the helical grooves on the pilot ring, causes relative rotation of the pilot ring and press roll with respect to the drive shaft. The pilot ring is provided with a circumferential groove on its outer surface which engages an axially movable press roll adjustment position yokejM ovement of the position adjustment yoke effects axial movement of the pilot ring and press roll. Spring connection means between the phase adjustment yoke and the position adjustment yoke cause the former to move with the latter so that there is no relative movement between the pilot ring and register ring.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a printing press having a registration adjustment mechanism in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view, partly in section, of the portion of the press and the mechanism shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of a yoke shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a view, partly in section, of one of the gear teeth shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the numeral 10 designates a portion of a machine, such as a printing press, comprising a suitable supporting frame 12 on whcih press components, hereinafter identified are supported for operation. As FIG. 2 shows, the press comprises a plate cylinder press roll 14 having an integrally formed press roll shaft 16 which is supported for rotation on and is slidable in a bearing 18 on frame 12. Press roll 14 is adapted to have a printing plate cylinder (not shown) secured thereon which cooperates with a web of paper (not shown) moving through the press to apply printing thereto as press roll 14' rotates.

Press roll shaft 16 is ultimately driven by a drive shaft 20 having a gear 21 affixed thereon through or by means of an adjustable drive means or registration adjustment mechanism, generally designated 24. Drive shaft 20 also drives other press components, not shown.

Adjustable drive mechanism or registration adjustment mechanism 24 transmits power from drive shaft 20 to press roll 14 and also serves asa means by which two adjustments of press roll 14 are possible, namely, rotational adjustment of press roll 14 to change its phase relationship with respect to drive shaft 20, and axial adjustment of press roll 14 position to move it axially with respect to frame 12. Both adjustments, which can be carried out independently of each other, change the position of press roll 14 with respect to a paper web moving through printing press 10 and are essential, especially in color printing operations. A change in the phase relationship of roll 14 to drive shaft 20 does not change the phase relationship between the drive shaft and any other components it drives.

The registration adjustment mechanism 24 comprises a first spur gear 22 which is driven by drive gear 21 on machine drive shaft 20 through a second spur gear 23 which is mounted for rotation on a bearing 28 on a shaft 26 of a roll 25 which plays no direct part in the present invention. First spur gear 22 is in constant mesh with second spur gear 23 and is axially movable with respect thereto. The first spur gear 22, which has a central opening 30 therein is rigidly secured by bolts such as 31 to one end of a hollow cylindrical register ring 35 and the latter is slidably mounted on a hollow cylindrical pilot ring 37 which is rigidly secured to press roll shaft 16.

First gear means are provided on register ring 35 for engagement with second gear means on pilot ring 37 to effect relative rotation between the two rings as the rings are moved axially with respect to each other. The first gear means comprises a plurality of (four) circumferentially arranged, evenly spaced, inwardly projecting members or gear teeth 38 located at the other end of register ring 35. The second gear means comprises a plurality of (four) helical grooves 39 circumferentially arranged and evenly spaced on the outer surface of pilot ring 37.

Phase adjustment means are provided to move register ring 35 axially with respect to pilot ring 37 to effect rotational movement of the latter (and of press roll shaft 16 and press roll 14) and thereby effect a phase change of the press roll with respect to machine drive shaft 20 without changing the phase relationship of other machine components (not shown) driven by drive shaft 20 to the latter. Such means comprise a circumferential groove 41 in the outer surface of register ring 35 and a pair of phase adjustment members 42 which engage the groove. The phase adjustment members 42 are carried on and movable with an axially movable phase adjustment yoke 44 which is slidably mounted on a slide bar 45 rigidly secured on machine frame 12. The phase adjustment yoke 44 is movable by a motor 47, preferably hydraulic, which drives a rotatable screw shaft 48 which engages a non-rotatable threaded sleeve 49 rigidly attached to phase adjustment yoke 44.

Roll position adjustment means are provided to simultaneously move pilot ring 37 (and register ring 35) axially to effect corresponding movement of press roll shaft 16 and press roll 14 thereon with respect to machine frame 12 without thereby effecting rotational movement of press roll 14. Such means comprise a circumferential groove 50in the outer surface of pilot ring 37 and a pair of position adjustment members 51 which engage groove 50. The position adjustment members 51 are carried on and movable with an axially movable position adjustment yoke 53 which is slidably mounted on slide bar 45 on machine frame 12. The position adjustment yoke 53 is and roll 14 are movable by suitable means such as a crank 59 which has a threaded shaft 59A connected to end piece 55 on shaft 16 by suitable connecting means shown schematically as a dotted line 598 to move shaft 16 axially in either direction. End piece 55 is secured to shaft 16 by a bolt 60 and also serves to maintain pilot ring 37 in place onshaft 16.

To permit relative movement between register ring 35 and pilot ring 37 when the former is moved axially to effect a phase change, the motor 47 for moving phase adjustment yoke 44 is physically mounted on position adjustment yoke 53. To prevent relative movement between register ring 35 and pilot ring 37 when the latter is moved axially (i.e., so that both rings 35 and 37 move simultaneously) a resilient connecting means, such as a coil spring 57, is connected between the two yokes 44 and 53. Thus, when position adjustment yoke 53 is moved, phase adjustment yoke 44 moves with it by means of connecting spring 57. However, when phase adjustment yoke 44 is moved, the connecting spring 57 yields to allow position adjustment yoke 53 to remain stationary.

FIG. 1 shows that the four inwardly projecting gear teeth 38 are adjustably secured to the end of register ring 35 by releasable attachment means such as screws or bolts. It is to be understood that each tooth 38 is adjustably movable into and out of the groove 39 in the pilot ring 37 which it engages. Such adjustability of the gear teeth 38 enables backlash between the gear teeth 38 and the grooves 39 to be reduced or eliminated. This feature is desirable because of loose machinery tolerances that might otherwise exist between the sides of each gear tooth 38 and the sides of its cooperating groove 39. Adjustability of each gear tooth is accomplished in its simplest form, as FIG. 4 shows, by making the hole 38A in each gear tooth 38 of elongated shape to enable adjustable movement of the tooth with respect to the screw or bolt 38B which secures it to register ring 35, thereby enabling the gear tooth to be moved inwardly or outwardly with respect to the axis of the pilot ring 37.

RESUME A printing press roll 14 is driven by a drive shaft 20 by means of a drive mechanism 24. The latter is adjustable, flrst, to change the phase relation between press roll 14 and drive shaft 20 and, second, to move roll 14 axially with respect to frame 12. Both adjustments are used to achieve proper registration between the press roll 14 and a web moving through the press 10. The adjustable drive mechanism 24 comprises a cylindrical pilot ring 37 rigidly secured to the shaft 16 of press roll 14 and a hollow cylindrical register ring 35 slidably mounted on the pilot ring 37. A first spur gear 22 is attached to register ring 37 and is in constant mesh (and sliding relationship) with a second spur gear 23 driven by drive shaft 20. Inwardly projecting teeth 38 on register ring 35 engage spiral grooves 39 on the surface of pilot ring 37. Means including a yoke 44, member 42 and a groove 41 in the register ring 35 are provided to axially move register ring 35 and thereby change the phase relation between press roll 14 and drive shaft 20. Means including a yoke 53, members 51 and a groove in the pilot ring 37 are also provided to simultaneously move both register ring 35 and pilot ring 37 axially and thereby move press roll 14 axially with respect to press frame 12 without causing a phase change. Yoke 44 is movable by motor 47 mounted on yoke 53 and having a threaded shaft 48 which engages a threaded sleeve 49 on yoke 54. A spring 57 between the yokes 44 and 53 allows independent movement of yoke 44 with respect to yoke 53 and effects coordinated movement of yoke 44 when yoke 53 is moved.

I claim:

1. In a machine:

a support frame,

a roll mounted for rotation on said frame and also axially movable with respect thereto,

a machine drive shaft for driving a drive gear for ultimately driving said roll,

registration adjustment means connected between said drive gear and said roll,

said registration adjustment means being adjustable to effect a phase change of said roll with respect to said drive gear and being adjustable to axially move said roll with respect to said frame,

said registration adjustment means comprising,

a cylindrical pilot ring secured to said roll,

a hollow cylindrical register ring surrounding said pilot ring,

a gear secured to said register ring and in constant mesh and slidable engagement with said drive gear,

first and second gear means on said register ring and said pilot ring, respectively, to effect rotation of said pilot ring and said roll as said register ring is moved axially with respect to said pilot ring,

and means to effect axial movment of said register ring to effect a phase change and means to effect simultaneous axial movement of said pilot ring and said register ring to effect axial movement of said roll with respect to said frame,

said means to effect axial movement of said register ring comprising,

a movable phase adjustment yoke having a member in engagement with said register ring and wherein said means to effect axial movement of said roll comprises a roll position adjustment yoke having a member in'engagement with said pilot ring.

2. A machine according to claim 1 wherein said means to effect axial movement of said register ring comprises a motor mounted on said roll position adjust ment yoke and having a motor drive shaft for moving said phase adjustment yoke with respect to said roll position adjustment yoke.

3. A machine according to claim 2 including resilient means interconnecting said yokes whereby movement of said roll position yoke effects corresponding movement of said other yoke and whereby movement of said other yoke allows said roll position yoke to remain stationary.

4. A machine according to claim 3 wherein said drive gear driven by said machine drive shaft and said gear secured to said register ring are both spur gears.

5. A machine according to claim 4 which is a web printing press and wherein said roll is a printing roll for operating on a web movable through said press.

6. A machine according to claim 5 wherein said first gear means on said register ring comprises a plurality of gear teeth and wherein said second gear means on said pilot ring comprises a corresponding plurality of helical grooves engaged with said gear teeth. 

1. In a machine: a support frame, a roll mounted for rotation on said frame and also axially movable with respect thereto, a machine drive shaft for driving a drive gear for ultimately driving said roll, registration adjustment means connected between said drive gear and said roll, said registration adjustment means being adjustable to effect a phase change of said roll with respect to said drive gear and being adjustable to axially move said roll with respect to said frame, said registration adjustment means comprising, a cylindrical pilot ring secured to said roll, a hollow cylindrical register ring surrounding said pilot ring, a gear secured to said register ring and in constant mesh and slidable engagement with said drive gear, first and second gear means on said register ring and said pilot ring, respectively, to effect rotation of said pilot ring and said roll as said register ring is moved axially with respect to said pilot ring, and means to effect axial movement of said register ring to effect a phase change and means to effect simultaneous axial movement of said pilot ring and said register ring to effect axial movement of said roll with respect to said frame, said means to effect axial movement of said register ring comprising, a movable phase adjustment yoke having a member in engagement with said register ring and wherein said means to effect axial movement of said roll comprises a roll position adjustment yoke having a member in engagement with said pilot ring.
 2. A machine according to claim 1 wherein said means to effect axial movement of said register ring comprises a motor mounted on said roll position adjustment yoke and having a motor drive shaft for moving said phase adjustment yoke with respect to said roll position adjustment yoke.
 3. A machine according to claim 2 including resilient means interconnecting said yokes whereby movement of said roll position yoke effects corresponding movement of said other yoke and whereby movement of said other yoke allows said roll position yoke to remain stationary.
 4. A machine according to claim 3 wherein said drive gear driven by said machine drive shaft and said gear secured to said register ring are both spur gears.
 5. A machine according to claim 4 which is a web printing press and wherein said roll is a printing roll for operating on a web movable through said press.
 6. A machine according to claim 5 wherein said first gear means on said register ring comprises a plurality of gear teeth and wherein said second gear means on said pilot ring comprises a corresponding plurality of helical grooves engaged with said gear teeth. 